USA > Vermont > Genealogical and family history of the state of Vermont; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol I > Part 25
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to time in various medical journals. Some of lus published addresses and articles are: "Medi- cal Legislation," the president's address before the Vermont Medical Society; "Bacteria of Enteric Fever," delivered by invitation before the Virginia Medical Society; "Obituary of Dr. Joseph Draper ;" "Oration on State Medicine," (by election ) before the American Medical Asso- ciation ; "Progress of Medicine;" "Diphtheria as it has occurred in the United States ;" "A New Apparatus for Retaining a Dislocated Clavicle in Place;" "Cancer ;" "Causes and Prevention of Tuberculosis," the president's address at the American Congress on Tuberculosis, New York, June 2, 1902; and "Problems in Sanitation," presidential address before the American Public Health Association, New Orleans, December 9, 1902. Dr. Holton lias lectured with success on popular themes before various societies, his sub- jects being "Doctors," "Patriotism," "A Visit to Mexico," and "The Need of Sanitation." Of late years he has been a collaborator on The Sanitarium, published in New York city.
In part recognition of his scholarship and devotion to the cause of education, the University of Vermont conferred upon him, in 1881, the honorary degree of Master of Arts. Of the many honors and compliments that have come to him, it is doubtful if any is more valued than the sincere appreciation which is entertained for him by the fellow citizens of all classes and creeds. In a larger degree than falls to the lot of most men Dr. Holton has received this honest regard, his professional and civic virtues com- pelling the recognition. Genial as well as scholarly, he has many friends and admirers, professional and lay, in all parts of the Union, and is known and honored in the north and south as a most earnest disciple of science, an able promoter of international harmony, and an accomplished gentleman of unblemished char- acter. His published addresses exhibit a high order of ability, literary as well as medical. His "Address on State Medicine," delivered before the American Medical Association at Baltimore, in May, 1895, is one of the ablest presentations of this subject ever made, and abounds in valu- able suggestions.
Dr. Holton was married November 19, 1862,
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to Miss Ellen, eldest daughter of Theophilus and Mary Damon (Chandler) Hoit, of Saxton's River, Vermont. (See memoirs of Theophilus Hoit, this work.)
GEORGE B. HOLDEN.
George B. Holden, town clerk of Arlington, is prominently identified with the mercantile and agricultural interests of this town, being its only coal merchant, and the owner of three productive farms. A native of Arlington, he was born Sep- tember 15, 1828, a son of Cyrus A. Holden. He comes of substantial New England ancestry, his paternal grandfather, John Holden, having been born and reared in Barre, Massachusetts. Re- moving to Vermont at an carly day with his fam- ily, he settled first in Sunderland, Bennington county, where he remained but a short time ; coming from there to Arlington as a pioneer of the town, he devoted the remainder of his long life to general farming, dying here at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years. He married Abigail Chipman, daughter of Amos Chipman, another pioneer of Arlington, who came at an early day from Connecticut. She, too, lived to a ripe old age, dying at the age of eighty-five years. Eleven children were born of their union, namely : Cyrus A., John, Abby, Lucy, Beulah, Willard, Amos, William, Nelson, Mary Ann and Eliza, each of whom lived to be more than fifty years old.
Cyrus A. Holden was born in Barre, Massa- chusetts, July 28, 1794, and was there reared and educated. On attaining his majority he came to Arlington, Vermont, where he was subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits until his retire- ment from active business a few years prior to his death, which occurred at the venerable age of ninety-eight years. He married Lavinia Hard, daughter of Belus Hard, and granddaughter of Zadock Hard, an early settler of Arlington. Za- dock Hard migrated to Arlington, Vermont from Newtown, Connecticut, in 1768, becoming a pi- oneer of the town. For several years he was pros- . perously employed as a tiller of the soil and a tav- ern-keeper, also serving as justice of the peace. He married, first, Chloe Nobles, of Brookfield, Mas- sachusetts ; ten children were born to their union, Hannah. Lemira, Belus, Chloe, Lucy, Noble,
Jesse, 'Zadock, Sylvanus and Sarah. His second wife was a Mrs. Fenn. He was a member of the Episcopal church. Belus Hard, father of La- vinia Hard, was born in New Milford, Connec- ticut, and lived there until eight years of age, when he came with his parents to Arlington, mak- ing the journey on horseback with his mother. In his earlier life he engaged in farming, but was afterward a clothier, carrying on business first in Arlington, and later in Canada. He died in Arlington at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife, whose maiden name was Ruth Ells- worth, died at the early age of twenty-five years, but the four children born of their union all lived more than fourscore years. They were both members of the Episcopal church. Cyrus A. and Lavinia (Hard) Holden had four sons : Charles H., Deming C., George B. and Willard. The eldest of these, Charles H. Holden, was for many years employed as conductor and station agent on the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad (after- ward the Delaware & Hudson Railroad), and subsequently was proprietor of the Holden House, Saratoga. He was prominent in Masonic cir- cles, having taken the thirty-second degree, and was past grand master of the state of New York. Deming C. Holden met his death accidently when a young man ; Willard Holden died in childhood.
George B. Holden was educated in the pub- lic schools of Arlington, and at the Burr and Burton Seminary, after which he was in the em- ploy of the Rutland & Washington Railway Com- pany for four years. The following nine years he was engaged in mercantile business in Man- chester, then settled permanently in his native town in 1874. Purchasing a farm in Arlington in that year, Mr. Holden turned his attention to the pursuit of agriculture, in which he met with such marked success that he has since bought two other farms, being now the owner of three good farming estates. Since 1882 he has also carried on an extensive coal business. being the only coal dealer in the place. He is active and in- fluential in public affairs, and has filled many town offices with fidelity and ability. For several vears he was a member of the Arlington school board; has been town clerk since 1881 ; and ex- officio has served as justice of the peace a num- ber of terms. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Episcopal church, in which he
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has been vestryman and senior warden for a mummi- ber of years. His family are also members of the Episcopal church.
Mr. Holden married in 1861. Marion S. Rule, who was born in Arlington, Vermont, a daughter of Henry Rule. Mr. Rule was born in Scotland, but came to this country when four years of age; he followed the trade of a stone and marble cut- ter throughout his active life, living in Arling- ton until his death, at the age of ninety-two years ; he married Mary Canfield, one of the seven children of the late Nathan Canfield, of Arlington. Mlr. and Mrs. Holden are the par- ents of four children; Charles S. ; Edward H. and Mary L., twins ; and Florence M., a teacher in the public schools of Arlington. Charles S. Holden, the oldest child, now in the employ of the Boston & Maine Railway Company, married Mary Crowley, by whom he has two children, Walter and Harold. Edward H. Holden is an attorney who read law under the preceptorship of Messrs. Barber & Darling, with whom he is now engaged in the practice of his profession in Ben- nington, having been admitted to the bar in 1899. Mary L. Holden married Clarence E. Adams, a former merchant of Arlington, who died in 1898: since the death of her husband Mrs. Adams has resided with her father, and has acted as assist- ant town clerk, doing a large amount of cleri- cal work in the office.
HARVEY KLAPP FOWLER.
Judge Harvey Klapp Fowler, the oldest law- yer in active practice in southern Vermont, is also master in chancery and deputy county clerk, offices which he has held for more than forty consecutive years. He was born in Pough- keepsie, New York, January 1, 1818, a son of Jacob Fowler. His great-grandfather, Jacob Fowler, first of the name, was born and reared in Westchester county, New York, but removed to Unionvale, Dutchess county, New York, where he purchased eight hundred acres of land, from which he improved a farm, living there the remainder of his days,
Jacob Fowler, second, the Judge's grand- father, was born in Unionvale, New York, and there spent his life, dying about 1866. He inherited a portion of the parental homestead, on which he
was successfully engaged in farming during his years of activity. Of his union with Phoebe Vail, a native of the same town, six children were born, as follows: Phoebe; Israel; William; Jacob, father of Judge Fowler; Joseph; and Hubbard. Both parents were members of the Baptist church.
Jacob Fowler, third, was born on the ancestral homestead, January 7, 1784, and was educated in the schools of Unionvale and at Washington, New York. He began life for himself as clerk in a store, and subsequently went into business on his own account as a merchant, continuing until 1812, when he settled on a farm at Union- vale, near Poughkeepsie, and was there employed as a tiller of the soil until a short time before his death, when he sold his estate. He died in 1849, aged sixty-six years. He married Ruth Klapp, a native of Freedom, Dutchess county, New York, daughter of Jesse I. Klapp, and grand- daughter of Stephen Klapp, a prominent miller of Dover, New York. Jesse I. Klapp was born and brought up in Dover, New York, but settled permanently in Freedom (now La Grange). New York, where he bought a large tract of land, erected a grist mill, and was engaged in farming and milling until his death, in 1828. Of his union with Susan Baldwin, a native of Dutchess county, six children were born, namely : Elisha ; Isaac ; Susan; Ruth. mother of Judge Fowler; Mary, who married Joseph Weeks, of New York; and Caroline, who became the wife of Gilbert I. Vincent. The mother of these. children was a Quaker. After her death Mr. Klapp married again. Jacob Fowler and his wife, Ruth Klapp, became the parents of thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters, Harvey K. being the fifth child. One son, Nathaniel, Fowler, served in the Civil war as captain of Company K, Twenty-Second New York Volun- teer Infantry, and took part in the battle of Antietam. The mother died in 1847, aged fifty- six years.
Harvey K. Fowler received his elementary education in the schools of Verbank, Dutchess county. On August 20, 1837, he came to Man- chester, Vermont. and took a course of study at the Burr and Burton Seminary, spending four years in that institution, during two years of the time teaching school in the winter terms. In
HARVEY K. FOWLER.
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
IS4I he began the study of law with Sergeant & Miner, the senior member of the firm after- ward being lieutenant governor of Vermont, while Mr. Miner represented his district in Congress. Mr. Fowler was admitted to the bar in 1843, and at once entered into a co-partnership with Leonard Sergeant, becoming junior member of the firm of Sergeant & Fowler, which stood at the head of the legal profession for several years. In 1852 Mr. Harvey formed a partner- ship with the late Daniel Roberts, of Burlington, with whom he continued three years, when he bought out the interest of Mr. Roberts, and has since continued alone. On his admission to the bar in 1843, he was appointed registrar of pro- bate, and, the judge being a layman, Judge Fowler performed the duties pertaining to his office for him for a number of terms, afterwards holding the office of judge himself at different times for a period covering twenty-eight years, and up to his eighty-second year of age, when he retired. On resigning his office, in a most felici- tous address to the convention assembled he nominated his successor, Judge Edgerton, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this work. While in office Judge Fowler was eminently successful, none of his decisions having been reversed, and none of his acts being censured.
In 1860 Judge Fowler was appointed deputy county clerk by Samuel H. Blackmer, and has held the office continuously until the present day, also being master in chancery since his admission to the bar. As a general law practitioner he has been professionally interested in many important cases, assisting, among others, in the trial of Jesse C. Davenport for the murder of Samuel Wilson, the Judge being on the defense; the defendant was sent to the Asylum for the Insane, from which he was discharged. He was also one of the defenders of Cole, Reeves and Fitz- gerald, who were arrested for the burning of a factory and other buildings in Bennington, but were acquitted. He took the testimony in the celebrated Railway Bond case, in Bennington, spending seventy-eight days and crippling one hand, the testimony covering fourteen hundred typewritten pages.
On January 1, 1844, Judge Fowler married Mary J. Noble, who was born in Hebron, Ver-
mont, a daughter of Luke Noble and his wife, Martha (Sergeant) Noble. Martha Sergeant was a daughter of Dr. John Sergeant, and a lineal descendant in the fifth generation from William Sergeant, who came from England in 1638, was made a freeman in Malden, Massachusetts, and was a lay preacher for several years. The line was continued through his son. John ; the next in line of descent being Isaac ; then John, father of Martha, who became the wife of Luke Noble. Dr. John Sergeant died at the age of eighty- eight years. He was a leading physician and a citizen of much prominence. His wife was Delight Bell. One of the Sergeant family was Lieutenant Governor Leonard Sergeant, who married Phobe Raymond, who was born in Dorset, Vermont, in July, 1793, and died in 1836. Delight Sergeant, a sister of Lieutenant Governor Sergeant, went as a missionary to the Cherokee Indians in Georgia, where she married an Indian chief, Elias C. Boudinott, who built a fine house in Mississippi, where they were forced to settle, but on account of hostility in the tribe he was killed by an enemy, and she returned with her six children to Vermont, and lived in Manchester until her death in 1894. Judge and Mrs. Fowler became the parents of four children : Frances J., Warren, Edmund H. and Joseph W.
Frances J. Fowler is a woman of culture and refinement, and for many years was a teacher of art, having pupils first in White Plains, New York, then in Kentucky, and later in Peace Insti- tute, Raleigh, North Carolina. She is an accom- plished linguist as well as an artist, having studied the German language in Germany, where she went in company with a German lady whose father was a general in the Prussian army. at the same time taking lessons in Italian. She subsequently taught art in Wells College, where Miss Frances Folsom (later Mrs. Grover Cleve- land) was her pupil, afterwards becoming one of the faculty at Drury College, where she remained four years. She then made a second trip abroad, visiting Palestine, Greece, Italy, and going as far north as the North Cape. Since her return to Manchester in 1898, she has built a fine residence in the village.
Warren Fowler, who is engaged in the insur- ance business in West Lebanon, New York, mar- ried Mary J. Finch, by whom he has four chil-
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dren, namely: Mary ; Frances, wife of Henry Bull, proprietor of a grocery, has one child, Dorothy : Warrena ; and Edwina. Edmund H. Fowler, a farmer in Sunderland, Vermont, mar- ried Sybil Woodcock, and they have three chil- dren. Joseph W. Fowler, a lawyer and insurance agent in Manchester Center, married Hattie Dole, who died, leaving one child, Arthur. He then married Hattie Walker, by whom he has two children, Paul W. and Earle. Mrs. Judge Fowler died September 7, 1902.
Judge Fowler is a Republican in politics. He has been identified with the Masonic order for more than half a century, and belongs to Adoniram Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is past master ; to Adoniram Chapter, R. A .; M., of which he is past high priest ; to the Order of the Eastern Star, F. & A. M. He is also an Odd Fellow, being the oldest member of the lodge at Factory Point.
SMITH WRIGHT.
Smith Wright, deceased, who was one of the enterprising and influential citizens of Burling- ton, Vermont, was born at the old Wright home- stead in Williston, Vermont, March 8, 1823. Elisha Wright, grandfather of Smith Wright, was born in the year 1759 and was a descendant of Scotch ancestors. He was a resident of Marsh- field, Connecticut, where he was engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits, and previous to the year 1797 he located in Williston Vermont, being among the earliest settlers of that town. That section of the state at that time was nothing but a wil- derness, but Mr. Wright possessed resolute pur- pose and unconquerable industry, and in time was enabled to overcome all obstacles, and he met with gratifying success in his occupation of farm- ing. He was united in marriage to Miss Asencth Brigham, who was born in 1768 and died in 1855 ; Mr. Wright's death occurred in the year 1832.
John Wright, father of Smith Wright, was born on the old Wright homestead in the south- ern part of the town of Williston, Vermont, in 1797. Here he obtained the limited education that was afforded by the district school, and up- on attaining manhood he devoted his time and attention to the vocation of farming, and met with a large degree of success in this under-
taking. Mr. Wright took an active part in the political affairs of the town, and the records show that as early as 1825 he was elected grand juror ; he also filled other positions of trust and responsibility. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being one of the founders of North Star Lodge, for which he acted in the capacity of first junior warden. He was an carnest and consistent member and supporter of the Methodist church of Williston. Mr. Wright was imited in marriage to Miss Polly Holt, who was born in 1799, a daughter of Smith Holt, of Kenne, Essex county, New York, who was for- merly a prominent resident of Litchfield, Con- necticut. Seven sons were born of this union, and those who grew to manhood were all suc- cessful, influential men of business in the state. Mr. Wright died July 3, 1874, and his wife passed away in August, 1881.
Smith Wright acquired his early education in the common schools of Williston, and this was further supplemented by a course of study in the Hinesburg Academy. The early years of his life were spent in assisting with the work upon the farm, and later he accepted a position as traveling salesman. About the year 1850 hc entered the poultry business in a small way, and five years later was associated with his brother John W. Wright in the shipping of poultry from Canada. At the same time they established the famous poultry market at Perth and Smith's Falls in the province of Ontario, which proved to be the largest concentrating markets in the country for dressed poultry up to the time of the Mckinley tariff. He was the pioneer in refrig- eration, having established at Williston in 1871 the first commercial refrigerator, and for the following fifteen years he devoted himself to this line of trade, storing for other packers as well as for himself. In 1886 Mr. Wright admitted his three sons into partnership, under the style of Smith Wright & Sons, and for several years they were the largest dealers in frozen poultry in this country, and in addition to this they con- ducted a large trade in butter and eggs. They were the first to introduce the method of hold- ing butter by freezing. Up to this time butter was held in cold storage and it was thought in- jurious to freeze the same, but by their experi- ments they demonstrated that it was a far super-
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ior method, and within a very short time it revo- lutionized the method of holding butter in stor- age. At different times Mr. Wright was en- gaged in general mercantile business in Williston, and during the greater part of his life he devoted his time to farming. He also acted in the capac- ity of president of the Home Savings Bank of Burlington, from the time of its organization in 1894 until his decease.
In his political affiliations Mr. Wright was a Whig up to the time of the organization of the Republican party, when he joined their ranks. He was chosen to represent the town of St. George in the legislature in 1852-1853-1860-1861, and for the years 1869 and 1870 he acted as as- sistant judge in the Chittenden county court ; he was elected to fill the position of county com- missioner from 1880 to 1886, was representative of the town of Williston in the legislature in 1884, and served as senator from Chittenden county in 1886 and 1887. He was also appointed post- master of Williston, and held that position from 1872 to 1834. He was a prominent member of North Star Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Richmond, Vermont.
On April 25, 1844, Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Clarissa Angelina Loggins, who was born at Milton, Vermont, April 7, 1825, a daughter of Sheldon and Alma ( Barney) Log- gins. Mrs. Wright had three brothers who were in the army, and one in the navy, during the prog- ress of the Civil war. The following named chil- dren were born of this union: Mary Ann, born in July, 1845, married, in 1879, Gilbert Harris, a successful lumberman of Moira, New York, and they reside in Essex Junction, Vermont. Louisa Josephine, born in May, 1847, died in January, 1900, married in 1868, Hon. Ellery C. Fay, a prominent farmer of Jerico, Vermont, and they had three children, Herbert R., born Jan- uary 1, 1869, who died July 1, 1885, aged fifteen years ; E. Wright and Josephine Fay. Homer Elisha, born November 12, 1858, was united in marriage in1 1881 to Miss Judith Harris, and they have two children, John Harris and Mary Ange- lina Wright ; their residence is at Essex Junction, Vermont. Clayton John and Clinton Smith (twins) were born February 26, 1864; Clayton John married, in 1899, Miss Odella A. Fay, and Clinton Smith married, in 1896. Miss Abbie L.
Fay. The three sons reside at the old homestead at Williston, and conduct the business of Smith Wright & Sons. They are all prominent in the business and political affairs of the town and county, and have held many offices of trust; Clayton J. Wright is the present member of the legislature from Williston, and Homer E. Wright is a member of the Republican state committee. The mother of these children died in Williston in July, 1889, and Mr. Wright married, in 1893, Miss Ella Lawrence, who survives him and re- sides on Elm street in Burlington, Vermont. Mr. Wright's death occurred November 26, 1899. '
HORATIO HICKOK.
Horatio Hickok, deceased, was for many years a prominent business man of Burlington. He was born in New York city, February 21, 1845, a son of Dr. Wiliam C. Hickok. His pa- ternal grandfather, Samuel Hickok, born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, September 4, 1774. married Hannah Collard, who was born in Devonshire, England, October 1, 1777.
William Collard Hickok was a native of Bur- lington, Vermont, his birth occurring September 14, 1802. After his graduation from the Uni- versity of Vermont he studied medicine, and be- gan the practice of his profession in New York city, remaining there successfully employed in his chosen vocation until 1850, when he returned to Burlington, where he lived retired until his death, June 12, 1883. On June 26, 1826, he mar- ried Laura Ann Platt, who survived him a few years, dying May 7, 1894. Both he and his wife were members of the First Congregational church. Of their six children, three grew to years of maturity, as follows: William H., of Philadelphia ; Horatio, the subject of this sketch ; , and Frank, of Columbus, Ohio.
Horatio Hickok was but five years old when he came with his parents to Burlington, where he acquired his rudimentary education, subsequently attending the Vermont University for one year and finally graduating from Williams College, in Williamstown. After leaving school he pur- chased the interest of the junior partner in the firm of Matthews & Davis, manufacturers of boxes, the firm name becomning Matthews & Hickok, later through a change of partners be-
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
ing Horatio Hickok & Company. In connection with his manufacturing interests he also dealt extensively in lumber, carrying on a profitable business mitl his death, and was likewise for a number of years president of the Baldwin Re- frigerating Company. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the College Street Con- gregational church ; was a member of the Algon- quin Club and the Lake Champlain Yacht Club.
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